Tito's bunker ARK D0

Tito's bunker in Konjic was for years a well-kept secret. It has been built in secret from 1953 to 1979., called DO ARK. In case an atomic catastrophe happened Tito and his closest associates would be sheltered here. This impressive space, mass concrete structures, lies at about 6,500 square feet of space and about 300 feet deep below the earth's surface.

Bunker was built with the intention that, in the case of (nuclear) war, center of military operations could function properly (provide shelter for the Supreme Command Headquarters) and provide shelter for President Tito and his family and closest associates. This building, which resembles a maze, with more than a hundred rooms and fully preserved inventory (consisting of a number of residential space, conference room, offices and a "presidential bloc"), was designed to provide uninterrupted life for 350 people for six months. Till the 90s’ the construction (in which was invested 4.6 billion U.S. dollars) and the existence of the bunker was top-secret.

Mountain Zlatar located near Konjic, guarded by dozens of years the largest national military secret of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY). In this natural environment 33 years ago an atomic shelter was built, the facility called D-0 ARK, which was the main command place of the former Yugoslav Army. For this, except for the workers who were carefully selected and were required to sign the agreement about silence, knew only four commanders.

When you look at the outside, you see three ordinary houses surrounded by nature. But these houses are hiding more than 50 years the largest military facility, which was the third most important in the former Yugoslavia. The first is the underground airport Zeljava at Bihac, a second naval port Lora in Split. Construction of the building lasted 26 years (1953 to 1979) and cost $ 4.6 billion.

Object, better known as Tito's bunker, consists of three parts. The first is obvious and is called camouflage part, consists of three buildings: the supervisory residences, part for security of former President of Yugoslavia Josip Broz Tito and the facility in which the staff for technical support should be placed.

When you pass through the hallway of the first house, the three heavy metal doors thickness 1.20 meters open, followed by the tunnel that takes you to the heart of nuclear bunker at a depth of 280 meters and a length of 202 meters. Tunnels connect the camouflage part with the third part of the facility - atomic shelter that can withstand a nuclear attack strength of 20 kilotons. The walls of the tunnel are made by hand from wood. The entire facility has 6000 neon lights.

The third part of the building is shaped like a horseshoe and it is the protected part because it contains protection systems, fire systems, the system for protection against nuclear attack, air condition ... It is divided into 12 blocks. Most important blocks are 6 (Communications), 8 (Tito’s block), 9 (lung-air facility), 10 (for oil tanks) and 11 (water).

In case of danger of nuclear attack, bunker was ready to accommodate 350 people from the highest military and political leadership of the former Yugoslavia. They could stay there six months without any contact with the outside world, because it contains everything that is needed for a normal life.

Bunker covers a total of 6854 m², with more than 100 bedrooms with comfortable beds, two large conference rooms, five operation centers with direct phone lines with the presidency of the federal republic and cable TV, two kitchens, five large bathrooms, crypto center, a hospital with an operating room. .. Inside the building there is a large number of rooms for maintenance. It contains two containers with 50 tons of oil, two types of air-conditions, swimming pool with 170 cubic meters of water, running water and technical from natural wells, located in the mountain. Each system has an alternative in case the first one fails.

Tito’s residence in this building is elite. It consists of five rooms: room for the secretary and guests leads to Tito's office which is linked with his bedroom, from which you enter the room of the first lady of the former Yugoslavia Jovanka Broz, while the last room is for rest.The temperature in the is between 21 and 23 degrees Celsius, and humidity of 60 to 70 percent, which represents the ideal conditions for life.

There is an emergency exit which is not marked on the map. Leads to the hill above the building to the height of 170 meters, from here you can reach the relay node on mountain Zlatar.

Tito's bunker today is the meeting place of artists from the region, Europe and the world. Last year from 27th of May to 27th of September the first Biennial of Contemporary Art was held. Brought together 44 artists from 18 countries worldwide and recorded more than 15,000 visitors. At that time 50 artworks became a permanent setting of this property.

The funding for the project involved five countries: Serbia, Montenegro, Turkey, Croatia and Bosnia. Second Biennial will be held on 26th April next year.

The facility is now protected by five soldiers, and belongs to the Ministry of Defense.